McHenry Twin Drive-In
3848 McHenry Avenue,
Modesto,
CA
95356
3848 McHenry Avenue,
Modesto,
CA
95356
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The McHenry Drive-In actually started life as a single-screener on August 30, 1972 with “Kansas City Bomber”, with a capacity of 620 cars, while construction of the second screen was in process at the time of the opening. The theater was actually named McHenry Twin Drive-In 1, in connection of the construction of the second screen.
A second screen was then added nearly almost a year later on July 3, 1973 with “Deliverance” at Screen #1 and “Fiddler On The Roof” at Screen #2, renaming as the McHenry Twin Drive-In 1 & 2. Both theaters had a total investment of $350,000, while the construction pays off only $200,000.
The McHenry Twin Drive-In closed its doors for the final time in October 1984. After sitting abandoned for approximately 3½ years, the twin screens were taken down and the McHenry Twin Drive-In was demolished on May 8, 1988 to make way for houses.
Sorry to say that this was not a 3-screen drive-in, and never known as the Briggsmore 3 Drive-In.
It was called the McHenry Drive-In at it was located directly behind the Wal Mart store at 3848 McHenry. This picture above is not McHenry Drive-In, it is the Prescott Drive-In. ( see the 99 expressway in the left corner of the image ) I have posted some images which show where the McHenry Drive-In was, a map from 1969 and an aerial photo from 1966 that was taken before the Drive-In was built.
We know that there wasn’t a 1970s drive-in at 3848 McHenry Avenue, because a 1967 aerial photo showed that a big-box store was already there. (Though it wasn’t a Walmart yet, since the company hadn’t expanded into California yet.)
There is a drive-in west of the intersection of then-Briggsmore Avenue and Prescott Road (now about 2200 Plaza Pkwy) that was a single screen in 1967 but a three-screen drive-in in 1982. Looking all along Briggsmore Avenue in that 1967 aerial, I can’t find any others. Could I have another hint?